2022 Global Leaders in Consulting: Harpreet Arora

Harpreet Arora is an experienced Managing Partner & Business Leader with over two decades in global and regional leadership roles in financial services, information technology and consulting services industry. Started career as a corporate banker with ICICI & Citibank; followed by building and growing consulting / IT services businesses with Ernst & Young, Infosys and Wipro over the past 20+ years. Skilled in entrepreneurial & turnaround Situations, accelerated business growth execution, strategy creation & implementation, M&A value creation & realization.

What do you consider your greatest personal or professional achievement?

Being a parent is the greatest personal achievement and the sharpest learning curve. The lessons we learn from children about curiosity, patience, being in the moment and finding joy in simple pleasures are precious.

Professionally, I think there is much more to come, however to date, managing two acquisitions (a first for me) in the consulting business over the last 18 months and making them successful has been a great learning experience; as we all know acquisitions are always difficult to create value from.

What advice would you give a professional just beginning a career in consulting?

Consulting provides continuous learning opportunities through every client interaction and engagement. The only way to grow is to be open to learning. You will be amazed at how much there is that you still do not know.

Another piece of advice, become a master of one than a jack of all!

What have you loved most about your consulting career?

It is all about the people and the experiences related to them, be it clients, partners, consulting teams. The richness of experience while managing all kinds of temperaments, personalities and situations is beyond words. Everyone is passionate about what they feel or do, whether you share the same passion for same things is not for you to judge.

What's the best advice—personal or professional—you've ever received?

Taking the liberty to quote Friedrich Nietzsche, a German philosopher — "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger". There will always be ups and downs; thank the universe for that! Life would be too stale if was predictable. Your attitude is what will get you through. Every experience will leave you richer, stronger, abler, and wiser! On the professional front having a 'mentor' is very valuable. Especially in moments where you feel your assessment may be clouded or you are at crossroads, a mentor is someone you can look up to for a very unbiased analysis of the situation.

What does being honored as a Global Leader mean to you?

If words could do justice to feelings, I would be able to pen it all. However, it is a very humbling and rewarding feeling. It is a privilege to be recognized amongst other great leaders in the industry. I would like to say 'Wipro' as an organization has been my lucky charm. I have been very fortunate to work with great leaders and mentors at Wipro, who have trusted me and given me opportunities to work upon. Very close to my heart is the BFSI consulting team – who have rallied with me to uphold the vision of the organization through their relentless passion to consistently deliver on the growth and impact.